Let’s Give Away A Book or Two, Shall We?

By Kay Gardiner 10/20/09

Dear Ann,
Our dear publisher has sent me a couple of most excellent books, so I thought I’d get busy and give them away this morning.
First up:400 Knitting Stitches. Not 399, not 401, but 400! This is a good solid stitch dictionary with a really pretty cover. I was tempted to keep it, but since I seem to have talked myself into all 4 of the Barbara Walkers (5 if you count the Learn-to-Knit Afghan, and I think you should), one Lesley Stanfield, and a Harmony guide, that would be a bit piggish.
Next, for our young & bangin’ friends with sewing machines:
Olive likes it, obviously.Twinkle Sews.
This book is crammed with beautiful examples of Twinkle at her insouciant best. Everything is young, fun, and different-but-not-weird.
I would keep this book to make clothes for Carrie if that were not the most unrealistic idea, even for me. (What with the rug-making operation and all.) I really would love for this to go to a loving home. It’s special.Da Rules
To enter the contest, leave a comment to this post no later than noon (NY time) on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, telling me which book you’d like (choose one). (Note: Anyone who says anything unsupportive about Twinkle’s models being skinny (as skinny as –gasp! shock and horror!–fashion models) will be disqualified. There’s no First Amendment in book giveaways!) The winner will be chosen by separate random drawing for each book.In a Twinkle State of Mind
Coinky-dink: today I’m sewing up my re-gauged version of the Best Friend cardi from Twinkle’s first knitting book. It’s for Carrie or, if it doesn’t fit her, someone equally Twinkle-riffic. (But not Olive.)
Love,
Kay

Hi Kay, I would love the 400 Stitches book! I have started a charity knitting group at my church and we will be making blankets for Afghans for Afghans. We have some beginners in the group and this book would provide much needed inspiration and guidance. Would take it even if Olive chewed it (a little bit.)

I would love, love, love teh 400 Stitches book. I’ve been looking for a good stitch dictionary…and saw this at Rhinebeck, but I had already dropped my wad, so had to leave it on the shelf…:(
Supplies for the new angora goats had to come first.

!! Sign me up for the 400 stitches giveaway, since so far, no-one has fulfilled my Amazon wish list plea for every one of Barbara Walker’s Treasuries. (And why not? Doesn’t my family love me?) Thanks for the chance!

Oh the conundrum of making such a decision. 400 stitches for me or Twinkle sews for my fashionista, skinny as a rail (clearly not from my side of the family), daughter???
Please put me in for the Twinkle book, it’s the motherly thing to do! Thanks for sharing!

I would love the 400 stitches book. When I saw book give-away I thought we were going to have to do something complex – knit a book cover, name your latest project – something that required more creativity than I could probably muster. But leaving a comment – this I can do! (wish me luck 🙂

Stitch Dictionary! Though since I am a left handed mirror knitter, I am not sure that my results will be strictly kosher.
I think the models need to stand up straight! But I’m pleased that they are smiling. I’m so tired of sullen girls in fabulous clothes: if you can’t be happy in a gorgeous outfit, well I don’t know what is wrong with you.

Oh my-I could really use 400 Stitches. I seem to have lost my knitting mojo and some inspiration would be so wonderful. Haven’t knit much at all in 4 or so months which is pretty scary for me. Thanks for the Olive pics!

I would say something snarky about fashion models being as skinny as fashion models, and how I wish they wouldn’t do that, except that one photo you showed has the woman having breasts and real calves. So I can’t complain about her!
But don’t enter me, I won’t use the book, and I also have the BW books 😉

I would love the 400 Knitting stitches book! I don’t have any other books by that author; although I have one knitting stitches book that I use.I have been able to attempt to keep my sanity using that book since it is a welcome respite from my challenging teenaged son. I would really like another book of this type especially if it is chewed by adorable Olive.

Gosh, tough choice! I think I’ll go for Twinkle, though. Those look like some very fun patterns! And I need to step it up in the clothes-sewing department (past polar bear costumes, that is!) Fingers crossed!

Ooh, 400 Stitches, please. There are 400? I could make it a Julie/Julia project and knit through them in a year, thereby figuring myself out and getting my act together. Or I would have a lot of awesome new knitwear. Thanks!

I really would like to win the 4oo stiches book… Love knitting and right now i`m knitting dishcloth…hihi ! Perfect giveaways to friends and family !
***
Big hug from EVA in the very north of SWEDEN !!!

I would love 400 Knitting Stitches! I have a boatload of knitting books, but alas, no true stitch dictionaries! Thanks for parting with it! Oh and Olive is just adorable! (I know that doesn’t improve my chances of winning, but she really is!)

I would love the Twinkle sews book–especially since I have been looking for an excuse to pull out the 35 yr old Singer machine (it still works great!) and start sewing again. Maybe something in the book will match the Twinkle ballerina sweater that I made from her first book in Twinkle yarn!

Definitely the stitch book. Please Please Please, the stitch book. I’m not young enough nor do I have a lifestyle that lends itself to anything cute or trendy (I have one outfit for Weddings/Funerals). Knitting, however, is my Drug of Choice and I could definitely use more stitches.
And coffee. I could use more coffee too.
Olive is gorgeous. Carry on.

Oh, please put me down for the stitch dictionary please. I have one but it doesn’t have photos, only black and white drawings. I love the color in that cover. My poodle promises to not chew on the book, but it is very likely he will nap stretched across it. He has some cat like tendencies.

I am thoroughly infatuated with stitch dictionaries (despite the fact that I only own two…the Harmony Guides) and would LOVE the 400 Knitting Stitches. (Good thing it’s not 401 stitches…it would have never fit on my bookshelf!)
Thanks for the great giveaway!

I love that blue on your rug. It’s been sooo long since I hooked. However, I wish to remain faithful to the knitting, and not add another time theif to my life! My little boys would like to have Olive. Guess they’ll have to get in line!

Oh my. I have one stitch dictionary and will curl up in bed and read it for pleasure in much the same way I read cookbooks in bed for pleasure, I’d dearly love to have that stitch dictionary.
I may be a fat middle aged momma myself, but I never mind seeing slim models. I like looking at all sorts of people, doesn’t matter what they weigh. Good photography and interesting clothing combined with the pleasure of ogling human beings is fine by me. Then again, I could sit for hours in a coffee shop and just stare at everyone passing by, so maybe my requirements for ogling are minimal?

You know what book I’d like? Mason-Dixon 3: Revenge of the Log Cabin. Any chance that’ll be hitting the shelves someday soon? (Since we are trying to sell our house, I cannot under any circumstances bring in more books, so don’t enter me in the drawing.)

Agree with some one else here – can one have TOO many stitch dictionaries? especially if one is starting to design…
love to Olive (she is adorable and if she wants a play date in the wilds of westchester let me know!)

With the help of the Twinkle book and my trusty Bernina, there is hope of bringing peaceful mornings to the home of two aspiring, frightfully young fashionistas, and their fashion-challenged mother( she who happily wore her Tevas every day this summer.) Getting the fashionistas “turned out” in the morning is resulting in ever increasing stomping, eye-rolling, and tears (mine & theirs.) I need all the help I can get!

Would love to win either but since Christmas is coming then my “Best-Friend-Who-Is-An-Awesome-Seamstress” would be very excited to have the Twinkle book. Hopefully I would be re-gifted with an awesome garment out of that too!

I would love to enter for the 400 stitches.
If I were more fashionable or a better seamstress, I would be interested in Twinkle Sews but my fashion sense died a horrible death before I even got out of grade school. No Twinkle for me!

Would love to win the 400 Knitting Patterns book – Hester from Atlanta who has never won anything in my whole life – (except for the white opera length gloves when I was 14 – unless you are a beauty pagent participater – who wants opera length white gloves at 14?)

400 Snarkless Stitches, please! That would be, let’s see…about 398 more than I have right now!
My most-chewed book corner ever? “How to Train Your Dog.” No joke. Well, except that the dog was making a joke. Har-de-har-har. She is quite witty!

I would love the knitting stitch book, please. Because I’m new to knitting and don’t already have one and am fascinated that there are SO MANY different ways to essentially loop some yarn.
I don’t sew, so the other book would be not so useful at this time.

Wow the puppy’s adorable, looks like she’s developing into a playful little thing. 400 stitches would make an amazing addition to my 2 other stitch dictionaries (yes, there are sadly only 2, and they’re small). Although the sewing book looks interesting, I am totally sewing machine impaired.

Ooooo, I love the stitch dictionary. Wonderful, wonderful. I would consider myself and intermediate/advanced beginner and that book would really get my creative juices flowing. Thanks for a great blog.

Kay, I could go for that 400 Stitches book. Hey, and when you’re back in Big O sometime, you need to go out to Black Horse Antiques and look at her wonderful hand dyed wools and hooking patterns. I am not into hooking officially, but I want to be. I have already compiled the wool stash for it . . .

Dear Kay…I would like to be considered for the 400 Stitches book, which, if I were to win it, I would give to my daughter. She is teaching herself how to design knitwear, and this book would be an invaluable resource for her. thank you!! Corinne

Ooooh, I envy you the Barbara Walker books. I have 4 of hers so far, but will hopefully fill in the 2 essential gaps I have at the next knitters conference I attend.
In the 400 stitches bucket please. Call me crazy, but I love to read stitch dictionaries, just like I still love to read cookbooks.

I would like to win Twinkle Sews. I have my own set of daughters about Carrie’s age who would love to place orders for fun, different-but-not-weird ensembles. Like I don’t have anything else to do what with the metric ton of yarn and fiber I scored at Rhinebeck. And what with Stitches East this weekend…

I would like a try to win the 400 stitches book. I can’t sew a straight line to save my life. My mom and sisters can I just didn’t inherit that talent. Knitting I like to do especially in the wintertime.

Please-please-please — the 400 Knitting Stitches. I haven’t seen my sewing machine in forever (I think it is buried somewhere beneath my yarn stash).
And thanks for working in those photos of the adorable Olive. What dainty little paws!

I’m going to opt for the 400 Knitting Stitches book. I love the look of the Twinkle book and I can sew but alas the designs may not be age appropriate for the mother of a college student. (Student is a guy so can’t even sew for him!)

Hi! I have 3(!) teen-aged daughters and they would be very happy if I got the Twinkle Sews book. It looks like a great book of sewing inspiration for those of us who knit and sew. I am not a quilter, however (although sometimes I make quilts). I prefer to sew clothes, especially for my daughters.

Hi Kay, I would love to have the stitch dictionary book for my own personal library. It’s taking over the house, and outnumbers the cooking books 2:1. What does that say about my priorities?
Thanks for the give-away, Sara Denbo in AL

I think it’s wonderful that you all are so willing to share your beautiful books. I would be interested in the Twinkle book since I recently inherited 2 sewing machines from my late MIL–one for me and one for my 9 yo daughter. I’m only now getting back into sewing after leaving junior high many years ago.
Thanks!

I’d love Twinkle’s book. While I am a confirmed kinitoholic I too have the Compleat works of Walker and Harmonies too. I am also a confirmed sewaholic (and quiltaholic… keep those posts coming!) My teenage daughter is a rarin’ to start sewing her own clothes. Thanks, Catharine

It is so nice of you all to share your books with your blog readers. I am interested in the Twinkle book as I recently inherited 2 sewing machines from my late MIL–one for me and one for my 9 yo daughter. I’m very excited to return to sewing (not having done any since junior high sewing class).

Oh please, oh please!! The 400 Stitch Dictionary for me! The only knitting book I’ve purchased since moving into my new house is the Indigo Knits book. (Which, btw, is just as fabulous as you suggested!)

I teach knitting to the seniors (go, girls!) at the Lennox Hill Senior Center at 70th Street and First Avenue. These fine wimmen (Flo, Marg,Nancy, Eve Rose, Regina, etc.) are always asking for specific stitches and patterns. (We’ve all been making gorgeous hurdle stitch scarves with loosey-goosey yarn.) It would be great if we could start a knitting book library with this book. And if there’s anyone out there with extra yarn, we’ll happily take it! Pick us! Puh-lease!
Harriet

On Halloween I fly to Japan for a (minimum) 2 year stint working as a librarian for the Marine Corps. Japanese women are petite lotus blossoms (even teenier than fashion models). There is no way possible for my wide-load American fanny to fit into Japanese sized clothing; therefore I am in dire need of Twinkle Sews, especially since it’s been given the quality control check by Olive.

400 Knitting Stitches for it’s appealing cover AND 400 stitches. My 14 year old warmed my heart by starting to finish what she started with those seductive skeins she always convinced me to get her in return for allowing me to drag her to the yarn shop. She decides what she wants to make and then starts creating her own patterns. She even figured out how to use two colors and make diamonds. I would love to surprise her with a beginning for her own knitting library to go with her growing yarn stash.

400 Knitting Stitches for it’s appealing cover AND 400 stitches. My 14 year old warmed my heart by starting to finish what she started with those seductive skeins she always convinced me to get her in return for allowing me to drag her to the yarn shop. She decides what she wants to make and then starts creating her own patterns. She even figured out how to use two colors and make diamonds. I would love to surprise her with a beginning for her own knitting library to go with her growing yarn stash.

I would love the stitch dictionary because I don’t have one. In my head that would mean I would use it to design something greater than a dishcloth with it, but really what’s more important than a cool dishcloth?

I think the Twinkle Sews book looks beautiful but as only a button and hem level sewer, I think I would most love to have the 400 stiches book. I don’t have any stich books yet and this would be a great first book.

Well, since I am not 20-something anymore, and don’t have time to sew (which is why I knit more now, though Halloween is coming, and no one wants to wear the really really neat Dembledore cape I made for the final Harry Potter) …
I guess I will opt for the “one can never have enough stitch dictionaries, even if you have all 4 Barbara Walkers ….” eye candy, eye candy.

I would love the stitch dictionary because I only have 3 of the Barbara Walker Treasuries (#3 is autographed!). Also my 9 y/o daughter just today told me she didn’t think I had ever won a contest, so it would be really great if you drew my name to prove her wrong.

OHHH, I love free stuff. I love books. I love free books! I’d die to wrap my hands around the 400 stitch book. I’ve been collecting as of late. For what, I may die before I figger it out, but hey- I like a good collection. 😀

I would give my eyeteeth for the Twinkle sewing book! Here in North Central Washington, we are approaching on Hibernation Season, and knitting too much hurts my hands, so I need some sewing distractions and LOVE Twinkle! Thank you.

Ooooh! I’ve seen the “400 Knitting Stitches” in a magazine or catalog lately and thought it would be a great addition to my large knitting book collection, which is rather sparse on the stitch dictionaries (I only have a couple….)
So yes, I would love to have “400 Knitting Stitches”!

I’d choose the 400 knitting stitches. Mainly because the cover is so bright and cheery and fun! I want multicolored squares of various stitches for an afghan, dangit! Plus, the best thing about the Twinkle Sews book is that chunky knit scarf, which I’d most likely spend my time reverse engineering it rather than sewing from the book.
*crosses fingers* :]

Oooh! I would have to go with the 400 stitches, as I don’t have a good stitch library book, and that one look very yummy. The sewing one look like a lot of fun too, but my poor machine is all but ignored now a days.

I would love the Twinkle sewing book! I recently found my sewing machine again (one good thing about cross-country moves is that when you unpack everything, you find things you didn’t know you had!) and would love some new ideas!
Thanks for your awesome contest!

Hi, please enter my name with the 400 stitches book. I did poorly in home ec with the sewing class. The teacher (nun) made me wear my outfit in a fashion show at the end of the semester, still feeling the pain!!!

Hi, please enter my name with the 400 stitches book. I did poorly in home ec with the sewing class. The teacher (nun) made me wear my outfit in a fashion show at the end of the semester, still feeling the pain!!!

I would love to win the stitch book! I am a beginning knitter and have been looking for a good reference.
I really admire that projects that I read about on your blog! Thanks so much for the inspiration!

I’ve been dying for a stitch dictionary. Hopefully I can win one. And I don’t care how skinny the models are the fashions are cute! But the stitch dictionary would be much more useful. One more for the 400 knitting stitches book.

I’d love to win the sewing book, to go with my new sewing machine. I’ve got the same problem as you, Kay, with an overabundance of stitch dictionaries–400 more would overwhelm me to paralysis. By the way, thanks for using my favorite word! Do you know how long I have to wait between sightings of “insouciant”?

I was a sewer before I ever knitted and already have Twinkle Sews on my wish list. Please pick me! And Kay, I saw a blurb in VK Holiday 2009 about knitting chair covers for plastic patio chairs and it reminded me of your project.

hey, i just added twinkles book to my wish list at the library to look through! But i need the 400 stitches book, as i always seem to be crusing the internet for certain stitches this would come in handy…we have the worst internet company!! S-L-O-W!!

since my libray only has 2 of Barbara Walker’s books, I’m interested in 400 Knittin Stiches.
By the way, at first glance I mis-read the ‘Potter Craft’ and thought it was ‘Poetry Craft’. In those few seconds I was curious as to whether this meant the author considered a swatch a poem. Was rather disapponted when my eyes re-focused and saw ‘Potter Craft’. I definately don’t think I’d be interested in treating swatches like pots. But I’m still interested in the stiches.
Thanks so much for your generous nature to share with the rest of us.

as a child, growing up in australia, ‘to twinkle’ was our euphemism for ‘to wee’ (another euphemism but you know what i mean). nevertheless, would love a copy of the twinkle sews book. thank you for offering the competition.

Okay, a quick scan of the comments did not turn up this one – TWINKLE? I do swear I give my age away when I thought you were writing about TWIGGY! *sigh* And I thought she had grown up (and dare I say out?) and gone into sewing! (Sorry, do really not know Twinkle at all. Blame it on being stuck in Bangkok …)
Books? Well, the 400 stitches would be neat, but I can’t see you picking me because then you’d have to pay postage to Bangkok, which is evidently not cheap given the recent quote by a yarn company that is 3X the cost of the yarn!
Keep including Olive in all the pictures … why wasn’t she on your rugging?

I’d love a chance at 400 Knitting Stitches please.
Teeth marks by Olive are a fine addition to the book. My dog sometimes bites on the corners of my library books (just to taste test them you know) but I always have managed to save them from lasting damage so far.

Living on one of the other plateaus, I don’t know off the top of my head whether you americans are living earlier of later than we europeans, so I’m just testing my luch here. I’d really like to receive the “400 Knitting Stitches”.

Hiya ladies!
I sure do love your blog, and your books! If I do actually have a snowflake’s chance in h-e-double-hockey-sticks in winning, I’d love the knitting book! Thank you for the offering the drawing. Also, the rug is cute–sure looks better than anything they taught us in Home Ec in high school right?

Somehow I missed the site yesterday and now there are 715 comments ahead of me. WOW! I am still knitting, but have a new Bernina and am sewing again, so I would love Twinkle Sews. PLEASE draw my name.
tp

I’d love the Twinkle Sews book as my college age daughter and I looked at it just this past weekend and each page was “oooo, could you make that” and “awwww, that would look so good with my new boots”………It would be a nice surprise for her. Thanks for being so generous and fun to read!

Oh, how I love the Twinkle book, but alas, I will enter for the Stitch Dictionary because I don’t have one of those yet. (I’ve been knitting for how long?!?!)
Thanks for another great giveaway, and Olive is adorable!

I LOVE TO KNIT. RIGHT NOW FAITH CIRCLE IS MAKING PRAYER SHAWLS FOR THE SICK OF OUR CONGREGATION. THIS NEW KNITTING BOOK WOULD BE A GREAT HELP TO OUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I READ YOUR SITE EVERY DAY AT WORK. I’M A BANK TELLER AND WE TALK ABOUT DOGS MORE THAN ANY OTHER SUBJECT. WE ALL LOVE OUR PETS – SO A SHOUT OUT TO DEAR OLIVE!
CINDY BUCK

The stitch dictionary please!! I am running a knitting club at my daughter’s elementary school and this would be great because even with coffee
(and lots of it), I can only remember so many stitches ya know?

Good morning ladies! I would lovelovelove the 400 Knitting Stitches book. I need to explore more than the garter & stockingette & rib & seed stitches with which I’ve become such good friends. This looks like a great book to help me spread my wings!

I would love the 400 stitches! I am a newer knitter and hopelessly addicted. I have found nothing more soothing or satisfying, especially with 4 boys running around the house, yes they are all ours. So the more stitches to play with the better! 🙂